GOATS ON EAR WESTERN RANGES. 5 



SUPPLEMENTAL FEED. 



If range forage is covered with snow for more than a few days at a 

 time, some other feed must be provided for the goats. On northern 

 ranges and at high altitudes this condition sometimes prevails for 

 long periods. On most winter ranges in the Southwest light snows 

 which soon melt are the rule, so that little feeding is necessary. How- 

 ever, even here a small amount of supplemental feed on wintry days 

 and during kidding will pay for itself hj keeping the animals in 

 good condition. 



All kinds of hay from alfalfa or clover to dried brush or straw 

 can be fed advantageously. Where alfalfa, clover, vetch, or cowpeas 

 are fed no grain is necessary ; but it is well to supplement rough fod- 

 der with cottonseed cake, oats, barley, or other grains. Roots are 

 sometimes fed as a substitute for green feed. Goats like good feed 

 and will ordinarily not eat anything soiled by dirt or trampled. Ac- 

 cordingly, they have sometimes been considered wasteful. To prevent 

 waste, hay should be fed in a feeding rack and grain in troughs. The 

 amount of hay and grain fed depends largely on whether the object 

 of feeding is merely to prevent loss or to keep the goats in a thrifty, 

 growing condition. With most range herds, from 1 to 2 pounds of 

 hay or from one-quarter to 1 pound of cottonseed cake are fed to each 

 goat on days when they are unable to obtain sufficient range feed. 



CLIMATE. 



Climate limits the suitability of range for goats through the effect 

 of heavy rains and snows. Dry, rugged areas are generally better 

 suited for goat grazing than wet, marshy lands. Goats seek the 

 shelter of timber or of sheds during heavy rains. Continued cold 

 rains may keep them unduly confined to sheds and have often caused 

 serious losses soon after shearing where sheds were not available. 

 The heavy losses that have occurred in the fog belt near the coast 

 of northern California and southwestern Oregon would indicate 

 that areas' subject to heavy fogs and rains are not well suited for 

 goat ranges. Despite these heavy losses, however, small herds of 

 goats are being grown successfully in portions of the fog belt, though 

 they require more care in sheltering and handling than where the 

 climate is drier. Ranges subject to heavy snowfall should not be 

 used for winter grazing unless warm, dry sheds, and plenty of 

 supplemental feed are provided. 



WATER. 



The amount of stock water available determines the suitability of 

 a given range for goats, especially at certain seasons of the year. 

 Abundant water should be available on ranges used during the spring 



